Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

The Massachusetts Legislature initiated the Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program to bolster economic progression and evolution. The scheme aims to incentivize the completion of degrees in high-demand fields, helping to meet the Commonwealth's workforce requirements by offering scholarships to offset the educational expenses of students enrolled in such study programs.

Applications for the 2025-2026 Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship will be accessible to students at both public and private institutions in Massachusetts who are working towards a degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Health Professions, Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Economics, or Business.

Eligibility Criteria

A student can apply if they are registered in an eligible program and fulfill the following prerequisites:

• They must have lived in Massachusetts for a minimum of one year prior to the term they are enrolled in, intending to stay in Massachusetts in line with the Board of Higher Education's policy
• They must have their eligibility validated as a High School Completer, 1 according to the Massachusetts tuition equity law, 2 or be a U.S. Citizen, a permanent legal resident, or a non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations
• They must have applied for financial aid using the standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a FAFSA equivalent application approved by the Department of Higher Education
• They must be enrolled in an eligible high-need program at a public or independent institution in Massachusetts
• They should not have previously received a bachelor's degree or equivalent
• They must demonstrate the achievement and maintenance of a minimum college-level GPA of 3.0 on coursework completed post-high school graduation
  • Note: New students starting college in Fall 2025 are eligible to apply for this scholarship, however, they must maintain a 3.0 GPA once enrolled to remain eligible for the scholarship.

Qualifying Institutions

In the academic year of 2025-2026, eligible institutions include both public and private establishments in Massachusetts.

Eligible programs for the 2025-2026 High Demand Scholarship are identified by their CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code. A complete list of eligible programs designated by CIP code is available online.